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Hala Gorani Tonight
Chaos at Hungary's Border with Serbia; Last-Minute Preparations for Republican Debate. Aired 3-4p ET.
Aired September 16, 2015 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:00:08]
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HALA GORANI, CNN HOST: Tonight chaos at Hungary's border with Serbia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIIFED MALE: Families, children, at some point --
GORANI: We will take you there live and speak to Hungary's Foreign Minister.
PETER SZIJJARTO, HUNGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Because we just have to make it very clear that Europe is not ready in her current shape to accept
millions or tens of millions of migrants. And I think it would be very --
GORANI: It's not tens of millions, sir. It's not tens of millions.
SZIJJARTO: So far.
GORANI: This is not an accurate number.
SZIJJARTO: So far.
GORANI: We're talking about numbers today.
SZIJJARTO: So far.
GORANI: My full interview with that top Hungarian official minutes away. Plus, Syria's dictator is blaming the west for the migrant crisis.
And later the last-minute preparations for CNN's Republican Presidential Debate.
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GORANI: Hello, everyone. I'm Hala Gorani. We're live at CNN London, and this is The World Right Now.
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GORANI: We begin with the explosion of anger along the Hungarian/Serbian border.
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GORANI: A few hours ago migrants infuriated about not being let into Hungary clashed with troops. Take a look at some of the images. Some threw
rocks and water bottles and tried to push down Hungary's border fence. Hungarian forces responded with tear gas and water cannon.
The situation has since calmed down but both Serbia and Hungary are bolstering their forces along the border. This particular crisis began
Tuesday when Hungary sealed off that crossing point, a river of refugees many from Syria suddenly dammed up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: We have two senior correspondents covering this great migration and its obstacle obstacles. Ivan Watson is in Serbia near the border with
Croatia. We begin with Ben Wedeman who witnessed today's clashes. He's just south of the Hungarian/Serbian border. Tell us a little bit about some of
these dramatic images that we saw there, tear gas, water cannon, and forces really trying to push back some of those refugees.
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BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Hala, what we saw is this was building throughout the day. There were lots of people at that
fence that divides Serbia from Hungary who were pushing it back and forth and chanting open the gate and open the gate.
Now for most of the day there were people in the frontline trying to keep the situation under control, refugees themselves. But passions increased as
the heat became more intense and at a certain point they were actually able to open that gate at which point the Hungarian police opened up with tear
gas that caused other -the refugees and the migrants to fire back with rocks and bottles and other objects. And what followed was utter
pandemonium which climaxed when rumor went out after things calmed down a bit, that they were opening up the gate, that somehow they had managed to
push through.
So what happened was we saw you know hundreds of people including entire families, everyone carrying everything, all their possessions with them,
children - children in buggies being pushed forward towards that gate. At which point the Hungarian police opened fire with volley after volley of
tear gas. They opened up with water cannons as well causing utter confusion. Because this is a narrow road here and this huge mass of people
first moving forward and then running away. Some people getting trampled in the hysteria of it all.
Now the situation is calm now, Hala. What we saw late this afternoon was that the Serbian police showed up and basically have three lines of Serbian
police, not riot police, they're not armed with anything, but they're keeping people back so calm has been restored.
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WEDEMAN: And I think slowly the realization is dawning on many of the well over 2,000 people here that Hungary is not about to open its doors. Hala?
GORANI: All right. Stand by Ben Wedeman, I want to go to Ivan Watson. He is at another border point with Croatia there and many refugees and
migrants are thinking essentially of forgetting about trying to get into Hungary through Serbia and trying another route. What's going on where you
are now?
IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Hala, a day after Hungary closed its border, Croatia announced it was opening its border to
the migrants.
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WATSON: So here in the cornfields that straddle the Serbian/Croatian border it's pitch black, but here you have migrants and refugees that have lined
up in the fields here at night, at an impromptu checkpoint established by Croatian police.
[15:05:15]
WATSON: And people are patiently waiting as the police take them in vans in small groups at a time to a transit center where they are then registered.
Now the Croatian government says that it is going to to accommodate people who request asylum, it's going to try to provide medical care to anybody
who needs it. The mayor of Zagrab has extended an appeal to the residents of the Croatian capital saying please open your homes to the families of
refugees and the Croatian government has said it may even help with the transit of migrants and refugees presumably to other borders in Europe as
they try to move north.
It's very important to note that this really was not a path that was being taken by this flow of humanity before today. This is just a corridor that
has opened within the last 12-18 hours. An alternate route now that Hungary has closed its border. And in fact we've had people coming up to us as
we've been standing here asking us for advice, where do we go next after Croatia?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: And that just underscores the fact many of the migrants and refugees are simply following the tide, following the current of people
trying to get somewhere into central Europe. Hala?
GORANI: Ivan Watson, thanks very much. I want to get back to Ben there who's at the Hungary/Serbia border on the Serbian side. What happens now to
the people there? I mean, what is -- are they going to leave? Are they going to spend the night there? Are they - Do they have access to food,
water, sanitation, anywhere at all at this stage?
WEDEMAN: Well, it's pretty basic here. I mean I don't know if we can spin the camera over here. People are sleeping in the rough.
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WEDEMAN: There are those who are fortunate enough to have tents but as perhaps you can see these young men are basically camped out on the
pavement making the best of a bad situation.
Toilets, there are none. Showers, there are none. Some trucks showed up this evening with food supplies, with clothing that was handed out. But it
clearly was not enough for the number of people here. So most people will be camping down here although there was a bus, several buses that arrived
late this afternoon providing transportation to a nearby refugee camp that's been set up, and they were told that if they so desired
transportation would be provided free of charge to the Croatian border.
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WEDEMAN Now after today's clashes, there are some who say we're going to stick it out. We're going to fight our way through that border come hell or
high water. But I think the cooler heads among them realize that Hungary is not stepping down on this situation and that perhaps the best solution
maybe at this point to head in the direction of Croatia in the hopes that eventually they may get to the northern European countries that so many of
them want to reach. Hala?
GORANI: All right, Ben Wedeman, thanks very much at the Hungary/Serbian border on the Serbian side where we saw those chaotic scenes of people
running from tear gas and water cannon.
Ben was mentioning that many refugees are now say that go they don't believe that Hungary is going to soften its position. Certainly this is
reflected in a conversation I had with the country's foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto. It's the first time he's spoken to CNN since the refugee
crisis erupted in his country.
Now it has to be noted this conversation happened before the water cannon and the tear gas and all that chaos we showed you on CNN.
I began by asking him about the razor wire fence along the border with Serbia, and I asked if his country is planning to simply build fences all
around it to keep refugees out. Listen.
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PETER SZIJJARTO, HUNGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: To make it very clear we have not built wall on our borders. We have built a fence on the border between
Serbia and Hungary. You know the border between Serbia and Hungary is an external border of the Schengen zone and the Schengen code says it's --
very clearly that the crossing of the Schengen border is only allowed through the official border crossing points during opening hours and to
ensure this is the core responsibility of the member state at the external border. That's why we have - we have started preparation of building a
fence on the Hungarian/Romanian border in a kind of rational land from the Hungary/Serbia/Romania border.
GORANI: Do you think Schengen can survive now with these border controls going up and the free flow of people not authorized by your - by security
forces in your country?
[15:10:08] SZIJJARTO: I think that if we are not able to defend our external borders, then more and more member states could make decisions
which will take us further and further from the Schengen idea and this is what we simply do not want. If we are able to protect our external Schengen
borders then Schengen zone will survive, of course.
GORANI: Aren't you simply diverting the problem to a country like Croatia or elsewhere in Europe and washing your hands of it?
SZIJJARTO: You know the best solution would be to have a clear list of priorities of which number one, as I have already mentioned, would be to
defend our external borders. But we would have another very important task as well -- to have those countries like Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, who have
taken a very, very significant burden while supplying refugees and maintaining camps there. We should financially assist these countries to
keep the refugees --
GORANI: No, I understand, Minister,
SZIJJARTO: . as close as possible to their home.
GORANI: I understand, Minister, but you have hundreds of thousands inside of Europe now, and this is a problem and an issue and a crisis, I would
say, that needs to be dealt with now inside of Europe not in Jordan or Lebanon or it Turkey. Are you simply not passing on this problem to a
country like Croatia or others by sealing your border?
SZIJJARTO: You know, it's very important to think about the future of those people who are already in, but we have to avoid hundreds of thousands,
millions, or tens of millions of people willing to come to Europe in the future because we just have to make it very clear that Europe is not ready
in her current shape to accept millions or tens of millions of migrants. And I think it would be --
GORANI: It's not tens of millions, sir -- it's not tens of millions.
SZIJJARTO: So far.
GORANI: This is not an accurate number.
SZIJJARTO: So far. So far.
GORANI: But we're talking about numbers today.
SZIJJARTO: So far. So far.
GORANI: When you look at - when you look at the images on your border with Serbia and you see what's going on there, do you say to yourself maybe that
your country has some sort of moral obligation to help them?
SZIJJARTO: In Hungary there are camps for the refugees and for the migrants where we, of course, ensure the necessary supply for all of them. Of course
if they didn't go to these camps, we were not able to supply them. Regarding those who are out, for example, in Serbia, we are working
together with humanitarian - big humanitarian organizations.
GORANI: And you speak of the camps. You of course know about this video that was shot by someone surreptitiously inside a camp showing police
wearing hygiene masks, throwing food at them, like some people said like they were animals. Do you think that's an appropriate way to treat asylum
seekers inside your country?
SZIJJARTO: You know I think the appropriate way to inform people is to be correct and fair enough. Because those scenes you have shown and you have
just asked me about are scenes when the migrants were not patient enough to receive the food from the police people. Rather they ran on the police
people and they tried to solve the situation. You know Hungarian police people have been doing a great job without any violence taking care of more
than 200,000 migrants already this year.
GORANI: Your partner countries in you're part of Europe have said very harsh things about Hungary. Sticking refugees in trains and sending them
somewhere completely different to where they think they're going reminds us of the darkest chapter of our continents history. In Serbia they're saying
this is not 1941. Croatia is saying what you're doing is dangerous and cruel. How do you react to all that have criticism?
SZIJJARTO: You know I think it's very important to stay in a pragmatic way of discussion under such circumstances and such challenges. We are now
under enormous pressure regarding migration. We have been facing enormous challenges. And in these times accusing each other with such statements,
this is something that we have to refuse or reject and I think it's very, very important to act as being real leaders of the European Countries in
the 21st country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Peter Szijjarto, is the Hungarian Foreign Minister, the first time we've had him on since the crisis erupted in his country and since we've
seen some chaotic and tragic scenes unfold in Hungary over the last several weeks. A lot more to come tonight.
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GORANI: Syria's president speaks out, and he is blaming the west for the refugees flooding Europe. Not anything his regime is doing. We'll hear his
comments after the break.
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GORANI: Syrian President Bashar al Assad says the west support for opposition groups is to blame for the refugee crisis. He made the comments
to Russian media today and he refers, as he always has, to opposition groups as terrorists, a blanket term that the regime uses.
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GORANI: Lebanon is often the first stop for Syrian refugees trying to get to Europe. CNN senior international correspondent Nick Paton Walsh filed
this report from Tripoli.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well at least the northern port or Tripoli in Lebanon is very much ground zero for the
migrant trail and refugee trail that heads on to Europe.
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WALSH: Now these dozens of Syrian refugees to one side of me here, many of them will, after they've hit Turkey, move on towards Europe and some of
them have literally only hours ago emerged from Syria. From a border crossing there they're then taken directly to this port and when were told
they reach about 400 or 500 in number they're put on these boats which then travels straight to the Turkish coast.
Now the Lebanese authorities give them about 24 hours in the country and then move them straight onto these boats. They're not allowed really to
mingle inside Lebanon. But it is this large group of refugees that President Bashar al-Assad of Syria has said that Europe is to blame for.
His comments today to a Russian news agency saying that it was the west's decision to arm what he referred to as terrorists and that is in the eyes
of the west the Syrian opposition. That by arming them they have fermented the refugee and migrant crisis that now comes to Europe's shores.
But the sad collection of stories here which, as I say, will hours from now be on these boats that are crowded and we're told that so far this year
five times as many people according to migration officials have taken this trip to Turkey than did for all of 2014. These boats will soon be leaving
taking these Syrians to Turkey and then some of them may begin that onward journey to Europe.
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, in the northern Lebanese port of Tripoli.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Syrian President Assad also fielded questions over his government's involvement in the fight against ISIS. He told Russian journalists that
his forces are not working with the United States on that common aim.
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BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SYRIAN PRESIDENT: There's not a single coordination or contact between the Syrian government and the United States Government or
between the Syrian army and the American or the U.S. Army.
This is because they cannot accept the reality that we are the only power that's fighting ISIS on the ground. For them maybe if they cooperate with
the Syrian Army this is like recognition of our effectiveness in fighting ISIL.
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GORANI: All right, let's bring Fawaz Gerges of the London School of Economics also the author of "The New Middle East: Protest and Revolution
in the Arab World." Thanks for being with us. What did you make of his demeanor here, Assad? What did you make of how he was talking, I don't know
his -- the way he was expressing himself.
FAWAZ GERGES, LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS: We keep saying that Assad is losing entirely. Yet if you listen carefully to what he has said they are
compromising, he dismissed Geneva and any kind of political agreement.
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GERGES: He said only the Syrian people will decide his future. That means he does not accept any kind of political transition.
He blames everyone -- the terrorists, the Americans, the Europeans for serious catastrophes. Everyone except Bashar al-Assad. He tells you about
his mindset. And finally, really it was the talking points, the same talking points as Russia. He is the legitimate leader of Syria.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GERGES: The terrorists are responsible for Syria's catastrophe. The Syrian Army is the most decisive force against the terrorists. On and on and on
and this is exactly the Russia.
GORANI: It's what we've heard before. So, I apologize. Speaking of the Russian position, I want to show you and our viewers a report that we first
brought them yesterday that the Pentagon is now saying satellite images appear to reveal a Russian military buildup inside of Syria.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Take a look at these pictures. U.S. officials say Russia has been moving people and equipment into the area around Latakia and the air base
there. Not clear what the intentions are but of course Latakia is extremely strategically important. It's the Asaad heartland and there -- it is the
gateway to the Mediterranean.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GERGES: The Russians have already scored major points Hala. They're keeping everyone guessing including the Americans all of us about their
intentions. They are increasing their influence in Syria. They are trying to support the fragile government, their ally Bashar Al-Assad. They're
sending a powerful message to the United States that Syria is pivotal. They have changed the nature of discussion at the end of the month in the United
Nations. The United States and European powers have to talk to Russia to basically find a way out of the Syrian crisis that is .
GORANI: Look, is there hope - is there hope - is there hope right now?
GERGES: Well, you know I don't think there's any hope now. The divide is very, very huge. It's -- you're talking about Syria now Hala, regional wars
by proxies and a global war by proxies. What alarms me the most is that Russia is using Syria as a card, as a bargaining chip with the United
States and linking Syria to what's happening in the Ukraine and other countries as well.
GORANI: Fawaz Gerges, thanks very much. Always a pleasure. Coming up, the stage is set for a Republican showdown tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: But can anyone upstage Donald Trump? Also a conversation with the Serbian Prime Minister coming up live from Washington. Stay with us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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GORANI: Serbia's Prime Minister says the chaotic scenes playing out at its border with Hungary are a huge embarrassment for his country.
Prime Minister Aleksander Vucic joins me now live. He's in Washington. You just met with the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Thank you, sir, for
being with us. First I want to get your raw reaction to the scenes we showed on CNN just hours ago of Hungarian forces tear gassing and using
water cannons on refugees and migrants on your side of the border with Hungary. What was your reaction when you saw that?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALEKSANDER VUCIC, SERBIAN PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon and, first of all, thank you for having me. And I wanted to say thank you for having me
on and wanted to say that I was very embarrassed and in a way astonished when I heard everything about this news here in Washington.
And you know Hungarian police fired tear gas at Serbian territory and we warned our Hungarian colleagues not to repeat it again. And we don't see
any reasons for that. Because we treated those refugees in the best possible way really. Serbia we showed a real solidarity tolerance. We did
all medical screenings, medical treatments for those people. We offered overnight stay and not only overnight stay and also we registered and we
took their finger prints, we made all the needed photos. We did our job. Everything that all the others didn't do before us, even some EU countries.
[15:25:03] And we you know, we accepted all EU values and we behaved, we acted in accordance with the EU values, and now we are facing such a
terrible situation and also our Serbian journalists has been recently beaten by Hungarian police and with no reasons, with no reasons at all.
It's a lady, Jovan Djurovic is her name and I hope that it will stop. We will do our best to stay very calm, not to provoke anything but we hope
that we will finally get a comprehensive solution from the European Union. And that's what I was insisting in my discussion -- in my conversation with
Secretary Kerry.
GORANI: May I ask you Prime Minister. I was going to ask you about this because what you said right off the top there is that you told your
Hungarian colleagues, do not do this again, do not use water cannons on Serbian territory, do not use or tear gas. What response did you get to
that request?
VUCIC: I heard a situation because my Minister of Interior is in close contact with the Hungarian Minister of Interior and we hope that we just
overcome these bumps in the road and it won't happen again. And I hope that they'll respect our territorial integrity and sovereignty otherwise
we'll have to protect it. But what we need and what we ask is a European response to this. Someone from the European Union has to say what would be
a comprehensive solution for this migrant or refugee crisis and someone will have to say what was our fault, what we did in the wrong way or
someone else did it. They cannot stay silent as they used to be you know there is need for action. You know, it's 22nd and that very important
meeting is far away from today and what we need is prior (reaction) and you know we are eager to see the real results of their consultations. And
otherwise I'm afraid .
GORANI: .clearly, yes, -- clearly Prime Minister, you sound very frustrated. You sound frustrated with what happened today. You sound
frustrated with the slow pace of discussions and negotiations in the European Union to try to solve this. Is it fair to say this that you are
very frustrated right now?
VUCIC: If you - if you - if you use and choose that word I won't object to that. But, you know I'm very concerned. My job is to take care of our
country's interests, to take care of our people's interests. And we treated those migrants, those refugees in the best possible way.
What was our fault? I need someone from the European Union to say it to us. Why did they fire tear gas to our - at our territory? Why did they attack
our journalists? And we need to find all the response for that. We are not afraid of anybody but we need to see why did it happen? Who was responsible
for that?. We were not. We were not at all. We acted in a very responsible and a very serious way and I feel that every single normal person should be
frustrated.
Otherwise I wouldn't be normal and I wouldn't be deserving the place that I have today. You know it is dare to say a very normal reaction and I expect
a European Union very harsh reaction on these event from today.
GORANI: Do you consider what Hungarian forces did today at the border a violation of Serbian Territorial sovereignty or integrity here. Do you
consider this a violation?
VUCIC: Whatever - whatever - whatever you call it, it was a very embarrassing event and we'll do our best to overcome all the problems with
our Hungarian neighbors. We had a great relationship and will invest a lot of our efforts and a lot of our endeavors to make it better in the future
but it cannot be repeated. It cannot be repeated again. Otherwise it would cause a terrible disaster in an entire region.
And I'm not warning only the people that caused it today I'm doing that and I am warning an entire European Union because it's not our fault. Dare to
say that it's their fault because they didn't react properly on time and now we have to deal with something that we don't know how to deal with.
GORANI: Right. What do you think should happen now in the immediate future? I don't mean longer term negotiations. But there are about 2,000
people on your side of the border right now. Sleeping out on the street with very little access to clean water to bathrooms, et cetera. What do you
think should happen now?
VUCIC: We do our best to negotiate with those people. To convince them to persuade them to leave that place. To go to that reception center in
(inaudible). It's our place close to the border with Hungary. To change the place, to go somewhere else, to change the route, to do whatever they can.
But they don't want to accept our proposals. And well after that we cannot do anything else.
[15:30:14:
VUCIC: They way out was to go through the Hungarian border. And you know what we can is to speak to our Hungarian colleagues to calm the situation
down and to see that such terrible events will never happen again. And otherwise I cannot predict anything it's a very silly situation you know.
But we have to act in a very responsible and in a very serious way. And I hope that we'll have a lot of response from EU officials.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: OK, Prime Minister of Serbia, Aleksander Vucic, thank you very much. Joining us live from Washington where you just had conversations with
John Kerry on a day there at the border between Hungary and Serbia where we saw these chaotic scenes. We want to thank the Prime Minister for taking
the time to join us.
We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back with more news on CNN.
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GORANI: A look at our top stories. Hungarian riot police have clashed with migrants at Hungary's border with Serbia
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: They fired water cannon and tear gas after some refugees broke through a border fence. Frustration has been mounting for the past day
after Hungary blocked migrants from entering the country. I just spoke to Serbia's Prime Minister, Aleksander Vucic, saying he has asked Hungary not
to do this again. Expressed his frustration at the lack of a Europe-wide solution and also said that what happened today at the border area was a
huge, "embarrassment."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(GORANI): Also among the top stories; Syrian President, Bashar Al-Assad is blaming Europe for fueling the crisis by, "supporting terrorism."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: He made the comment during an interview with Russian media. Mr. Assad says the west's support for armed opposition groups within Syria is
fueling the civil war and causing civilians to flee.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: In the UK labor's new leader Jeremy Corbyn faced Prime Minister, David Cameron, in parliament for the first time as labor leader. The half
hour question and answer session is usually a raucous affair filled with sound bytes for a rolling T.V. audience.
But the veteran left wing leader displayed a very different tone today. Phil Black explains.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A new Labour leader promising a new civil way of conducting what is traditionally a bruising British
political ritual.
JEREMY CORBYN, LABOUR PARTY LEADER: Many told me that they thought Prime Minister's question time was too theatrical.
[15:35:01]
BLACK: It's been said by a new opposition leader before this was David Cameron versus then Prime Minister Tony Blair making the same point,
theatrically.
DAVID CAMERON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: It's only -- It's only our first exchange and already the Prime Minister is asking me the questions. This
approach is stuck in the past and I want to talk about the future. He was the future once.
BLACK: But Corbyn's first attempt at style over mob like braying he asked the public to suggest questions.
CORBYN: And I received 40,000 replies.
BLACK: He's only allowed six.
CORBYN: And I ask one from a woman called Marie who says what does the government intend to do about the chronic lack of affordable housing?
PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON: Now let me answer very directly Marie's question, because we do need to see more affordable housing.
BLACK: And so it went, Corbyn repeating loaded supplied questions on serious issues.
CORBYN: I've got a question from Steven who works for a housing association who says --
BLACK: And the Prime Minister agreeing respectfully with the importance of the question.
PRIME MINISTER CAMERON: What I would say to Steven and all those working in housing associations --
BLACK: Before talking up the government's record on the issue and often dropping in a little barb about the new labor leader's left-wing politics.
PRIME MINISTER CAMERON: If the labor party is going to go down the route of unlimited spending, unlimited borrowing, unlimited tax rates, printing
money, they will wreck the economic security of our country.
BLACK: This was all very different in tone and volume. David Cameron never looked troubled but crucially for Corbyn he didn't disgrace himself
either.
STIG ABELL: Comes Jeremy Corbyn with a kind of charming, bumbling amateurism and David Cameron just stood there and deflected everything.
BLACK: The Sun, like most British newspapers has been giving Corbyn a bit of a hard time since he became labor leader at the start of the week. And
he's been helping them out with headlines and stories like this. Corbyn, a committed Republican standing respectfully but not singing God Save the
Queen during a World War II commemoration service.
Some of his choices for shadow cabinet were notable including a would-be finance minister who once listed among his hobbies fermenting the downfall
of capitalism.
Corbyn and his left-wing views were elevated with huge support from labor party members across the country. But he wasn't the preferred choice for
most of those labor politicians sitting around him in parliament. This is all raw territory for British politics. Corbyn's not playing by the rules
and no one really knows what's going to happen next.
Phil Black, CNN, London.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Returning to our top story now, those angry scenes between refugees and Hungarian police along the border with Serbia.
CMM senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman was reporting live when tear gas started filling the air. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: They've fired more tear gas so people are sort of panicking at the moment. I don't know if we're still connected, just stick with me.
(CNN, HOST): You're connected, Ben. Carry on.
WEDEMAN: Yes, all right. You can see that tear gas has been fired.
OK, all right, I'll carry on, I'll carry on. All right, yes. Tear gas has been fired, people are running. This is one of the problems, a panic starts
and we just try to do a little traffic to keep people from trampling us as well.
OK, I can smell the tear gas now. They're chanting God is great. They had great hope when they thought they could go to places like Germany and
Austria and the fact that suddenly the door is shut, the road is closed and they can't move forward accounts for what we're seeing here.
OK what happened is rumor went around that the gate had been open and people could move forward so women, children, everybody came rushing with
all their possessions they could carry towards the gate and then just moments ago the crowd started to run in the opposite direction they were
firing tear gas. Again, it's thick, as you can tell. People are being overcome by this gas.
Earlier we had seen the Serbian police trying to calm the situation down urging people to move back so it appears these police have now been
deployed on the Serbian side of the border perhaps to defuse the situation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well that was Ben Wedeman, It certainly was chaotic, frightening for some of the refugees and migrants who ran away from that tear gas, the
water cannon as well, some of them carrying children and many of those migrants at the Serbian/Hungarian border are hoping eventually to reach
Germany. Really we haven't spoken to any who want to stay in Hungary. Speaking to CNN, the German Defense Minister, Ursula von der Leyen
condemned the Hungarians' use of tear gas was condemned. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[15:40:05]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your reaction to what Hungary is doing to the refugees, there's tear gas, there's all sorts of practically battles at the
Hungarian border.
URSULA VON DER LEYEN, GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER: This is not acceptable and this is against the European rules we do have. Therefore, it is very
important that we really stick to the respect what human dignity and human rights are concerned and the refugees have a right to be treated decent.
And this is something where we really have a lot to discuss in Europe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: There you have it, the German defense minister. A lot to discuss in Europe certainly.
Very few people disagree with that.
Now let's talk about the U.S. Republican debate. In a face-off you'll see only here on CNN, the hopefuls will meet in California for their second
debate. We'll have special coverage starting at the top of the hour so in 20 minutes' time.
Let's go live now to CNN politics senior digital correspondent Chris Moody in Simi Valley, California. Chris, set the scene for us.
CHRIS MOODY, CNN POLITICS SENIOR DIGITAL CORRESPONDENT: Well it's just a few hours before the debate is set to start and the candidates are all
starting to drive up the mountain where the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library is located here in Simi Valley.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOODY: They're driving in and they're doing walk-throughs on the debate stage seeing where they're going to stand. CNN has set up a 40-foot tall
stage that's parallel with Ronald Reagan's Air Force One jet and they'll be standing adjacent to that.
Also as they come in throughout the day and they prepare they've been set up with these trailers. Now we are close to Los Angeles, close to
Hollywood, it's kind of like on a Hollywood movie set. There are trailers set up all over this parking lot here just a few hundred feet from the
debate stage so they can practice and rest up a little bit.
And candidates are coming in and out back and forth. Governor, Chris Christie of New Jersey just came by he actually looked pretty comfortable
and ready for a fight. So it should be very interesting both debates tonight on CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: All right, I'm going to try to keep my eyes open past 1:00 and 2:00 in the morning here in London. Thanks very much Chris Moody. Let's go
to Washington now I'm joined live by Kevin Sheridan, he's the former senior advisor for Mitt Romney's Presidential campaign. He also was the
communications director for Vice-Presidential nominee Paul Ryan so he knows a thing or two about behind the scenes nerves and preparations. Thanks for
being with us Kevin.
First of all, let's talk a little bit about what the candidates are going through just a few hours from this important second debate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEVIN SHERIDAN, FORMER SENIOR ADVISOR ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT: Sure so right now they've just done their walk-throughs of the debate center. They've
seen what the facility looks like, they've seen what the crowd will look like, it's a much smaller venue than the first one in Cleveland where it
was an entire stadium. So they'll have to get comfortable with that. Then they're going to go back, they'll probably settle down they'll meet with
their families, they'll spend time listening to music or exercising or whatever they do to center themselves so that they can really prepare for
their lines of attack and remind themselves why they're there and what they need to get across to the American people
GORANI: So for our international viewers, the most recognizable name of course is Donald Trump. How is this format going to be different for him?
Because you mentioned the Fox debate, that was a big auditorium. This is about I think 500 people total so it's different. Does it hurt or help him?
SHERIDAN: You know it probably doesn't hurt him because the bigger event was establishment Republicans. He got booed, I was in the audience and
there was heavy boos throughout the - throughout the debate for him especially when he said he wouldn't sign a pledge that he would support the
Republican candidate.
So I think he's going to do pretty well in terms of the venue. It depends on where the entire rest of the field has evolved to whether or not they're
going to start taking shots of him. And whether or not the moderators are going to be able to hold his feet to the fire on some of the specifics that
he's avoided to this point.
GORANI: Because as you know debate one we didn't see many direct attacks against Donald Trump. Perhaps because they thought well eventually he's
just going to self-destruct. He hasn't, not only has he not he's also leading by a wider margin. So what's the strategy now?
SHERIDAN: Well, I don't think anybody knows. I think it's kind of a laboratory for experiment. Each candidate is trying to figure out whether
or not to go after him. That comes with a great risk as you saw with Rand Paul, if you don't bring you're A game you're going to get slammed.
And I think Rand Paul has already telegraphed that he's going to go after him again tonight. Jeb bush is going to have to have a moment. I don't know
that he's going to take on Trump but he may do it you know, as a bank shot. I think Carly Fiorina, everybody is looking to whether or not Trump and
Fiorina are going to have a moment since they just had an exchange before this leading up to this debate on her looks and a very unfair attack on her
which she turned into a really great moment for her campaign.
So everyone's waiting to see what happens and it still is the Donald Trump show.
[15:45:05] GORANI: It still is and it's what's really drawing people. I understand 24 million people watched the Fox debate, I can't imagine that
the CNN debate won't get absolutely huge numbers because of that.
I want to get your take on Ben Carson as well. Now this is a candidate that is a lesser known candidate for our international viewers but he's polling
second now. He is the pediatric neurosurgeon. We see a picture of him there. What is his appeal here?
SHERIDAN: Ben Carson's appeal is much like Donald Trump's in that he's an outsider, he's never held elective office. But unlike Trump he's got a very
a nice demeanor, he's got a good bedside demeanor of you will. He has come across as the calm, intelligence voice. What Ben Carson's big challenge is
going to be taking the support that he's got in the Evangelical community and from his books and from support that he's been able to build up over
the last few years and turned it into credibility.
He needs to - he needs to be a credible voice on foreign policy. He hasn't shown that he can really you know debate on specific topics like that. So
he's going to really have to show like another level of intelligence that he's already done on domestic stuff but he's really going to have to do
that on foreign policy issues.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: And I want you just to give us, Kevin, a reality check lastly on at this stage of the stage. How, I mean historically how often does the
front-runner at this stage of the campaign end up being the nominee?
SHERIDAN: Well at this time last election I think Herman Cain was in the lead. So it doesn't always matter. You know September is kind of the moving
time where you're coming out of summer. There's a summer fling. We'll see whether or not this support lasts for him. It's already started to move
with Carson moving up against him and Carly Fiorina and some others.
I think there's an establishment wing of the party that will come back, and I think at some point Marco Rubio or a Jeb Bush or someone else is going to
really take on one of those outsiders.
GORANI: All right, Kevin Sheridan, thanks very much we really appreciate your analysis. Kevin Sheridan, a former Romney adviser coming to us from
Washington.
Don't forget of course to tune in to CNN later when the Republican Presidential candidates face off in back-to-back debates.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Watch live at 11pm in London, midnight in Berlin and special coverage starts as I mentioned in 13 minutes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: U.S. President Barack Obama is inviting a 14-year-old Muslim boy to the white house after the teen was mistakenly arrested.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: You may have heard or read this story. You've reacted a lot to it on Facebook on my page.
On Monday Texas police handcuffed Ahmed Mohamed after teachers thought a clock he made and brought to school was, in fact, a bomb.
Here's that invitation Mr. Obama tweeted earlier. "Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you
to like sciences. It's what makes America great."
And by the way he also got an invitation from Mark Zuckerberg to Facebook headquarters.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
You can join the discussion about this story which as I mentioned is gaining a lot of traction online checking now #IStandwith Ahmed is the
third trending story worldwide. Go to my Facebook page Facebook.com/halagorani.
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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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[15:50:43 GORANI: Iran (Sound Gap - Technical difficulties)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRED PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Trump to Jeb Bush to Carly Fiorina. Republican presidential candidates have been talking tough
on Iran. Some even threatening to cancel the nuclear agreement if they win. Words that have some Iranian worried, says analyst Emad Abshenass.
EMAD ABSHENESS, ANALYST: If you live in Israel you should be afraid what's going to happen? Is there a plan to attack Iran? What will happen to us?
PLEITGEN: On Tehran's streets, as you'd expect the majority don't even know the names of the GOP candidates.
Of course the vast majority of Iranians aren't following the U.S. Election campaign especially in these early stages but there certainly are some who
are frustrated with the way many Republican candidates have been criticizing their countries.
But those we spoke to also believe the rhetoric coming from candidates is just that, campaign talk.
When they speak about the nuclear deal they don't think of the benefit for the American people this man says. They just think about their own benefit
so I think the Republicans have shown that for their benefit they will do anything. As far as I know this is the party of George Bush and Ronald
Reagan, this man adds. They were much stronger than these people and they could not touch us either so they can't do anything.
Contempt from Iran's hard-liners. The (inaudible) newspaper is the voice of the country's conservatives. Its boss Hussein (Inaudible) is an official
representative of Iran's supreme leader. He picked on the last Republican President's brother. Jeb Bush talk is bigger than his mouth he said. He
should consider if he really wants to continue the failed policies of his brother. We don't care what the Republicans say it's a big step from
talking to taking action.
While many Iranians dismiss the tough talk from Republicans running for the White House as the election draws closer many more will be paying attention
eager to see what a new President will mean for U.S. Iranian relations and the nuclear agreement.
Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Tehran.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Everyone is watching even in Iran. We'll be right back.
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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Well, we've been encouraging you to tune in to tonight's U.S. Republican Presidential debate here on CNN. After all, previous debate
stages have provided some entertaining moments through history. Here is CNN's Brian Stelter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: 1980 the Republican Primary Debate when Ronald Reagan essentially catapulted himself to the
nomination.
RONALD REAGAN, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: I am paying for this microphone.
STELTER: He was funding the debate with his campaign money to try to include all the candidates. Of course he went on to win the New Hampshire
primary and The Presidency.
In 1992 Jerry Brown and Bill Clinton got into a spat on the stage.
JERRY BROWN, FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He is funneling money to his wife's law firm for state business that's number one.
BILL CLINTON, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: I don't care what you say about me but you ought to be ashamed of yourself for jumping on my wife. You're not
worth being on the same platform as my wife.
BROWN: I'll tell you something, Mr. Clinton, don't try to escape it.
[15:55:03]
STELTER: George W. Bush and John McCain argued about negative ads in a 2000 CNN debate.
GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: This is an attack piece.
JOHN MCCAIN: That is not by my campaign.
BUSH: Well it says paid for by John McCain.
MCCAIN: That is not by my campaign.
STELTER: And who can forget when Hilary Clinton was asked about her likability in 2008?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What can you say to the voters of New Hampshire on this stage tonight who see your resume and like it but are hesitating on the
likability issue where they seem to like Barack Obama more?
HILIARY CLINTON, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, that hurts my feelings.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sorry, Senator. I'm sorry.
CLINTON: I don't think I'm that bad.
UNINDENTIFIED MALE: You're likable enough Hilary, no doubt about it.
STELTER: Former Texas Governor Rick Perry would like to have this moment back from 2012.
RICK PERRY, FORMER TEXAS GOVERNOR: It's three agencies of government when I get there that are gone. Commerce, education, and the -- what's the third
one there? Let's see. I can't, the third one I can't. Sorry. Oops.
STELTER: And then of course the Fox News Republican debate from just last month. New Jersey governor Chris Christie argued with senator Rand Paul
over the government's mass collection of personal communications.
CHRIS CHRISTIE: When you're sitting in a subcommittee blowing hot air you can say things like that.
RAND PAUL: I don't trust President Obama with our records. I know you gave him a big hug and if you want to give him a big hug again go right ahead.
STELTER: And this moment needs no introduction.
MEGYN KELLY, FOX, ANCHOR: You've call women you don't like fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals. Your twitter account --
DONALD TRUMP, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Only Rosie O'Donnell.
KELLY: No, it wasn't.
STELTER: With this roster of candidates on stage again, you can expect some more fireworks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: This has been The World Right Now. I'm Hala Gorani. Thanks for watching.
Stay with us now for complete coverage of tonight's Republican U.S. Presidential debate. It starts after the break on CNN.
END
